Watercraft



J. E. HOYLE June 1, 1965 WATERCRAFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1963 INVENTOR. JAMES E. HOYLE FIG.5

ATTORNEY June 1, 1965 J. E. HOYLE 3,186,370

WATERCRAFT Filed Oct. 16, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES E. HOYLE FIGJQO ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,186,370 WATERCRAFT James E. Hoyle, 25408 West Highway 66, Barstow, Calif. Filed Oct. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 316,681 11 Claims. (Cl. ILL-66.5)

The present invention relates generally to watercraft, and more particularly to watercraft of the planing type. The present application is a continuation-in-part of copending application, Serial No. 851,806 filed November 9, 1959, for Improved Powered Watercraft of the Planing Type and now abandoned.

Ever since man began to use boats for transportation on bodies of water, many varied designs of boat construction have been originated. One type of boat construction which has proved particularly beneficial, is the type wherein the boat is caused to slide along the surface of the water rather than being pushed therethrough. Such sliding action is generally termed Planing and requires a particular hull design and amount of power.

The planing action, in general terms, requires the bottom of the boat hull to be generally fiat in the transverse direction and disposed at a slight incline in the longitudinal direction or the direction of travel of the boat. Then, by pushing the boat at a relatively fast rate through the water, the fiat inclined surface causes the boat to be forced upwardly on the water. The force upwardly on the boat, of course, is a result of both the design of the boat hull and the rate of travel thereof through the water.

Planing boats have been particularly popular where high-speed performance is required. However, boat hulls of a planing type have generally been less eflicient in operation than desired due to the fact that the planing surface has been relatively large and wide so as to provide the watercraft with the necessary stability. The advent of light-weight, efficient motive power devices for boats has made it possible to design boat hulls with considerably less planing surface. However, heretofore there has existed a limitation as to the minimum, permissible planing area because if too little surface was used the craft became dynamically unstable.

The present invention provides a watercraft construction such that only a small amount of planing surface is utilized, merely enough, in fact, to insure that the necessary planing forces are developed for maintaining the craft on the water. As a result, watercraft according to the present invention is very efiicient and, as a direct result of the attendant instability is extremely maneuverable.

"It is an object of the present invention to provide a watercraft which is extremely fast and maneuverable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft which utilizes only a relatively small amount of planing surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft which is dynamically very unstable while in operation, but by controlling such instability is rendered very maneuverable.

A further object of this invention is to provide a watercraft having a boat hull formed with an elongated but narrow planing surface extending longitudinally of the watercraft.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft as characterized above having balancing means for regulating or controlling the instability thereof so that the attitude of the craft can be controlled and varied as desired during operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft as characterized above which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which is rugged and dependable in operation.

The novel features which I consider characteristic of 3,185,370 Patented June 1, 1965 my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The device itself, however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a watercraft according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the under surface of the craft of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the watercraft;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the under surface of such watercraft;'taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of a watercraft formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the under surface of the craft of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of the era-ft of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIGURE 6, but rotated showing the balancing means for said craft;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of one form of structure for providing the planing surface of either of the embodiments of the present invention;

FIGURES ll, 12 and 13 are other forms of structures for providing such planing surface.-

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to FIGURES 1-5 inclusive, there is shown therein a first embodiment for illustration of the present invention. The numeral 26 designates a watercraft having a boat hull 22 whereon is positioned suitable decking 24 extending from the bow 26 of the boat to the stern 28 thereof.

Within hull 22 there is provided a cockpit having a seat 30 for the operator of the craft as will hereinafter be more fully described. At the stern of the craft there is provided a transom 32 for receiving and retaining suitable motive power means such as the outboard motor 34 shown in FIGURE 6.

Although the drawings and the following description disclose a particular construction or design of watercraft, it will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that virtually any type or design of craft may be provided with the present invention. For instance, such watercraft need not be provided with the decking 24 or the particular seats 36 or transom 32, but rather virtually any type of boat design may be employed in place thereof. In fact, the present invention is adaptable to watercraft having inboard motive power means as Well as the outboard motor 34 shown in FIGURE 6.

Referring to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the hull 22 of the craft 26 is formed with a bottom surface 22a which, as will hereinafter become more apparent, may be of virtually any preferred design such as flat, round or V-shaped. Such bottom surface extends substantially the entire length of the craft, in accordance with the general taper of the how 26. The bottom surface 22a shown in the drawings is substantially flat in the transverse di mensions.

Extending longitudinally of the craft 20 and secured to te bottom of the hull 22 is a structure 36 which pro vides an elongated substantially flat planing surface 38 longitudinally of the craft. Such planing surface is substantially parallel but spaced from the bottom surface 22a of hull 22. Also, such planing surface 38 is so stantially equidistant from the opposite sides of the craft, to thereby extend along the longitudinal center line of the craft.

The structure 35 is tapered from the point 36a to the extreme forward end of the bottom surface 22a of the hull. As such, the forward end of structure 36 is extremely narrow and enlarges toward the mid-section of the hull to the point 36a. From the latter point to the rearward end of structure 36 the latter is of constant crosssection, thereby causing planing surface 38 to be substantially flat throughout this area.

-A forward planing member 40 is attached to or formed integrally with the structure 36 so as to extend from the point 36a to the forward end of the bottom surface 22a. The member 40 is also tapered from a thin section at the forward end of the craft to a relatively heavy section at the point 36a, to thereby provide a planing surface 40a which is inclined with respect to the planing surface 38. As shown most clearly in FIGURES 2 and 3, the planing member at is of slightly smaller width than the structure 36. It will be noted from FIGURE 3 that both the member 4%) and the forward portion of the structure 36 are tapered in the transverse dimension so as to be narrower at the bow of the craft 20 than at the point 36a.

Rotatably mounted within the boat hull 22 is a control shaft 42 the upper end portion of which is provided with manual steering means such as handle means 42a. As will be readily apparent to those persons skilled in the art, the control shaft 42 must be provided with a watertight seal to prevent the ingress of water to the interior of the craft 20. Attached to the lower end portion of control shaft 42 is a control member 44- formed with substantially flat control surfaces as shown at 44a.

Immediately forward of the control member 44 is guard member 46 which may take substantially any desired form such as a flat fin-like member or an angularly bent rod as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4.

The craft 22, as above explained, is provided with suitable motive power means. Such means, as for instance outboard motor 34' attached to transom 32 of hull 22, may include means for steering the craft, such as pivotal rudder or pivotal mounting means for the entire outboard motor. Steering means is necessary for controlling the direction of movement of the craft through or on the water. As will hereinafter be explained in detail, the control member 44 is merely to balance the craft or to control its attitude while planing on the water, and in no way is it a steering device for controlling the direction of movement of the craft through or on the water.

The aforementioned motive power means for the craft includes suitable pedals or levers whereby the craft can be steered by the operator in the cockpit. Such control means may, in its simplest form, comprise suitable cables on either side of the craft for pivoting the outboard motor 34 about a vertical axis. Such cables may be attached to pedals to be operated by the feet of the operator Within the cockpit.

With the craft 20 under power, the forward motion of the craft causes an upward force to be applied to the planing surface 40a of member 49. When this occurs, the craft 20 is slowly liftted upwardly until it is sliding along the surface of the water on the planing surface 38 of structure 36.

Due to the fact that planing surface 38 is relatively narrow, only a relatively small area thereof is wetted and hence the drag on the boat as created by the Water is held to a minimum. Thus, the craft 24B is caused to attain a relatively high speed across the water.

However, the narrowness or small transverse dimension of planing surface 38 also causes the craft 20 to be unstable about its longitudinal axis. That is, with craft 20 riding on the water on planing surface 33, the bottom surface 22a of hull 22 is elevated out of contact with the water. Accordingly, any slight shift in weight or the occurrence of any side-wise external force on hull 22 will cause the same to tip or pivot about its longitudinal relatively horizontal axis. To prevent this from occurring, the operator within the cockpit need only rotate control member 44, by means of shaft 42 and handle 42a, so as to create balancing forces which maintain the craft 20 horizontal while on the planing surface 38. Rotation of the control member 44 causes a tipping or banking force to thereby be applied to craft 20, and if such force is caused to counteract the external forces causing the craft to tip, the craft is thereby stabilized in its horizontal position on planing surface 38. Figure 5 shows by means of broken lines corresponding to the broken lines shown in FIGURE 3, how control surface 44a would appear from the top when control member 44 is rotated and craft 20 is tilted.

On the other hand, when craft 20 is caused to turn as by pivoting the outboard motor 34 or by suitable actuation of other steering means provided for that purpose, the operator can control the attitude of the craft throughout the turning operation. That is, the operator by means of control member 44 can control the angular disposition of the boat as it banks into and through a turn.

This feature is particularly desirable in that the operator can now control the tendency of the craft to slip sideways, or its tendency to flip over due to the chines or other members on the bottom surface of the boat digging too deeply into the water. That is, if it appears to the operator that the craft is too upright or vertical while in a turn, the control member 44 can be manipulated so as to cause the boat to bank at a steeper angle. Conversely, if the boat is in a turn and is banked too much, it is a simple matter for the operator to suitably manipulate control member 44 so as to cause the bank of the craft to be less severe.

It should be noted with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-5, inclusive, that the control member 44 is disposed forwardly of the center of gravity of the craft. This relationship is the same with respect to the second embodiment as shown in FIGURES 6-9, inclusive, as will hereinafter be explained.

The second embodiment comprises a boat hull 52 having a bottom surface 52a which is substantially flat, on the order of surface 22a of hull 22 of the aforedescribed first embodiment.

Mounted on such bottom surface 52a is a structure 54 which, except for a small lateral taper at its forward end as shown at 54a, is substantially constant in size and shape throughout its entire length. The structure 54 extends the length of hull 52 to thereby provide an elongated narrow planing surface 56 which is substantially fiat and parallel to bottom surface 52a throughout its entire length.

A control shaft 58 is rotatably positioned within the hull 52. The upper end of shaft 58 is provided with suitable handle means 58:: whereas the lower end thereof is provided with a control member 60.

A guard member 62 is disposed along the planing surface 56 immediately in front of the control member 60.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 6, the outboard motor 34 is provided with control cables 64 on either side of the craft 5!). Such cables are attached to motor 34 and to foot operated pedals 66 whereby the craft 50 can be steered through the water as desired by suitable manipulation of the operators feet.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 6, the center of gravity illustrated by the mark identified with the numeral 68 is to the rear of the balancing control member 60. This is the same relationship that exists in the aforedescribed first embodiment, the control member 44 therein being disposed forwardly of the center of gravity of the craft 20.

modifications thereof are possible.

The operation of the craft 50 is substantially the same as aforedescribed with respect to the craft 20. With the motor 34 pushing the craft 50, sufficient speed is ultimately attained to cause the craft to be planing on the surface 56. To maintain the craft 50 in the proper attitude, it is merely necessary to suit-ably rotate shaft 58. This, of course, causes the control member 60 to create the necessary balancing forces to maintain hull 52 in the proper and most effective attitude or balance about its longitudinal axis. FIGURE 9 shows by means of broken lines corresponding to the broken lines shown in FIG- URE 8, how control member 60 would appear from the top when craft 50 is tilted.

As above explained with respect to the first embodiment, the craft 50 is steered by means of the foot pedals 66, cables 64 and motor 34. Throughout any turning operation, of course, the attitude or degree of bank can be controlled by the control member 60.

The construction of structures 36 and 54 of the several embodiments may take substantially any desired form. For instance, as shown in FIGURE 10 of the drawings, such structures may be substantially square in transverse cross section. Suitable vertical members 70 and 72 can be attached to the bottom surface 74 of the hull and to a planing member 76. The various members are held together by corner fastening strips 78, 80, 82 and 84, if desired. The undersurface 76a of member 76 provides the planing surface, namely, the surfaces 38 and 56 in the first and second embodiments, respectively.

A further alternative may include a pair of chine members 86 and 88 fixed to the various members at the opposite sides of the planing member 76. That is, the chine members 86 and 88 may be (fastened to the corner strips 84 and 82 as shown in depending fashion. Such arrangement causes the depending portions of the chine strips to cut into the water so as to afford increased engagement therebetween.

FIGURE 12 shows a further modification, wherein the planing member 90 is held in spaced relation with the bottom surface 92 of a hull by means of a vertically disposed rib or spacer 94. Suitable strengthening means as shown at 96 can be used as desired.

FIGURE 13 shows an even further modification of the planing structure. Here a three step member 100 is attached to the bottom surface 102 of a hull. The member 100 may be provided with any desired number of steps as shown at 100a, 10012 and 100c in FIGURE 13, thereby affording corresponding steps in the elevation of the craft to its planing position.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a watercraft which is considerably more maneuverable and operable at higher speeds than corresponding crafts heretofore available.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fast, maneuverable watercraft comprising in combination, a hull having a bottom surface, means on said hull providing an elongated planing surface extending longitudinally of said watercraft and spaced from said bottom surface, said planing surface being of relatively small transverse dimension for planing of said craft, and balancing means on said craft, said balancing means being movable about a substantially vertical axis for overcoming the instability of said craft about the longitudinal axis of said planing surface as a result of said relatively small transverse dimension, whereby said craft is caused to be fast and maneuverable when powered.

2. A fast maneuverable watercraft comprising in combination, a hull having a bottom surface, means on said hull providing a unitary elongated planing surface ex-- tending longitudinally of said watercraft and spaced from said bottom surface, said planing surface being of relatively small transverse dimension for planing of said craft, and balancing means on said craft, said balancing means being movable about a substantially vertical axis for overcoming the instability of said craft about the longitudinal axis of said planing surface as a result of said relatively small transverse dimension, whereby said craft is caused to be fast and maneuverable when powered.

3. A fast maneuverable watercraft comprising in combination, a hull having a bottom surface, means on said hull providing an elongated planing surface extending longitudinally of said watercraft and spaced from said bottom surface, said planing surface being of relatively small transverse dimension for planing of said craft, balancing means on said craft, said balancing means being movable about a substantially vertical axis for overcoming the instability of said craft about the longitudinal axis of said planing surface as a result of said relatively small transverse dimension, and means for steering said watercraft operable with said balancing means to simultaneously control turning of said craft and the attitude thereof during such turning operation.

4. A fast maneuverable watercraft comprising in combination, a hull having a bottom surface, means on said hull providing a single elongated planing surface extending longitudinally of said craft along its longitudinal center line, said planing surface being of relatively small transverse dimension for planing of said craft, and balancing means on said craft, said balancing means being movable about a substantially vertical axis for overcoming the instability of said craft about the longitudinal axis of said planing surface as a result of said relatively small transverse dimension, whereby said craft is caused to be fast and maneuverable when powered.

5. A fast maneuverable watercraft comprising in combination, a hull having a bottom surface, means on said hull providing an elongated planing surface extending the length of said craft along its longitudinal center line, said planing surface being spaced from said bottom surface of said hull and having a relatively small transverse dimension for effecting planing thereon of said craft when powered, and balancing means on said craft, said balancing means being positioned substantially normal to said planing surface and movable with respect thereto for overcoming and controlling the instability of said craft about its longitudinal axis as a result of the minimum transverse dimension of said planing surface, whereby said craft is caused to be fast and maneuverable when powered.

6. A fast maneuverable watercraft comprising in combination, a hull having a bottom surface, means on said hull providing an elongated planing surface extending the length of said craft along its longitudinal center line, said planing surface being spaced from the bottom surface of said hull and having a relatively small transverse dimension for effecting planing thereon of said craft when powered, and a single balancing means on said craft having a control surface positioned substantially vertical to said planing surface and movable with respect thereto, said control surface creating as desired control forces in the water occupied by said craft for overcoming the instability of said craft about its longitudinal axis as a result of the relatively small transverse dimension of said planing surface, whereby said craft is caused to be fast and maneuverable when powered.

7. A fast maneuverable watercraft comprising in combination, a hull having a bottom surface, means on said hull providing an elongated planing surface extending the length of said craft along its longitudinal center line, said planing surface being spaced from the bottom surface of said hull and having a transverse dimension merely sufficient to effect planing thereon of said craft when powered and balancing means on said craft having a control surface positioned substantially normal to said planing surface and movable with respect thereto, said control surface being located forward of the center of gravity of said craft to create as desired in the water occupied by; said craft control forces for overcoming the instability of said craft about its longitudinal axis as a result of the minimum transverse dimension of said planing surface, whereby said craft is caused to be fast and maneuverable when powered.

8. A fast maneuverable watercraft comprising in cornbination, a hull having a bottom surface, means on said hull providing an elongated planing surface extending the length of saidcraft along its longitudinal center line, said planing surface being spaced from the bottom surface of said hull and having a transverse dimension merely sufficient to effect planing thereon of said craft when powered, balancing means on said craft having a control surface in the water occupied by said craft to create as desired control forces for overcoming the instability of said craft about its longitudinal axis as a result of the minimum transverse dimension of said planing surface, said control surface being positioned substantially normal to said planing surface and movable with respect thereto, and means for steering said watercraft operable with said balancing means to simultaneously control turning of the craft and the attitude thereof during such turning operation.

9. A fast maneuverablewatercra'ft according to claim 8 wherein said balancing means and steering'means are independently controllable by an operator of the craft whereby the turning of said craft can be coordinated with the angular disposition thereof about its longitudinal axis.

10. A fast maneuverable watercraft comprising in combination, a hull having a bottom surface, means on said hull providing an elongated planing surface spaced from said bottom surface, said planing surface being of such size as to develop minimum planing force for the craft when powered and of such shape as to render said craft unstable about its longitudinal axis when in planing position on said planing surface, and manually operable balancing means on said craft for overcoming said instability of said craft whereby the attitude thereof can be controlled as desired as said craft is planing, said balancing means being positioned substantially centrally between the sides of said craft and substantially normal to said'planing surface.

11. A fast maneuverable watercraft comprising in combination, a hull having a bottom surface, means on said hull providing an elongated planing surface spaced from said bottom surface, said planing surface being of such size as to develop minimum planing force for the craft when powered and of such shape as to render said craft unstable about its longitudinal axis when in planing POSl? tion on said planing surface, manually operable balancing means on said craft for overcoming said instability of said craft, said balancing means being positioned substantially normal to said planing surface, and means for steering said watercraft operable with said balancing means to simultaneously control the direction of travel of said craft and its attitude during planing operation thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS.

1,033,220 7/ 12 Westover 1144-56 1,529,036 3/25 Richey 11466.5 2,361,409 10/44 Munro 114-56 2,400,782 5/46 Renda'll 11466.5 2,507,544 5/5'0 Pridgen 114--57 X 2,958,875 11/60 McClain 114-665 3,079,617 3/63 Brasch. 3,080,845 3/63 Pollak 114163 X FOREIGN PATENTS 471,741 9/37 Great Britain. 2,948 1909 Great Britain.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FAST, MANEUVERABLE WATERCRAFT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A HULL HAVING A BOTTOM SURFACE, MEANS ON SAID HULL PROVIDING AN ELONGATED PLANING SURFACE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID WATERCRAFT AND SPACED FROM SAID BOTTOM SURFACE, SAID PLANING SURFACE BEING OF RELATIVELY SMALL TRANSVERSE DIMENSION FOR PLANING OF SAID CRAFT, AND BALANCING MEANS ON SAID CRAFT, SAID BALANCING MEANS BEING MOVABLE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS FOR OVERCOMING THE INSTABILITY OF SAID CRAFT ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID PLANING SURFACE AS A RESULT OF SAID RELATIVELY SMALL TRANSVERSE DIMENSION, WHEREBY SAID CRAFT IS CAUSED TO BE FAST AND MANEUVERABLE WHEN POWERED. 